IT R&D / software / hardware

Estonia is the world’s most digitally enabled nation, offering a unique combination of talent, environment and innovation. Our IT R&D ecosystem enjoys global proof of concept, being trusted by global organisations such as Kuehne+Nagel and NATO and producing unicorn startups Transferwise and Bolt.

Overview

#3in Europe in share of ICT specialists among people employed

Estonia’s journey to becoming the world’s most digitally enabled nation began 25yrs ago when visionaries committed to IT as a country strategy. Today, Estonia is a recognised leader in digital identity, cyber security and Blockchain and has produced numerous innovations in consumer, enterprise and government sectors.

IT is taught from primary school onwards in Estonia and the country ranks in the top 10 globally for the teaching of maths and IT. Numerous universities and vocational education centres collaborate with industry on knowledge and technology transfer, ensuring the workforce possess professional knowledge and practical experience.

Estonia ranks #3 in Europe for startups per capita and has produced four unicorns. Fourteen incubators and accelerators provide validation, mentoring, risk capital and global commercialisation services for sectors including CleanTech, Gaming and Industry. Government initiative Startup Estonia promotes early stage competitiveness and global integration.

Estonia’s IT R&D ecosystem is enabled by modern digital infrastructure and a pro-business environment which is free of red tape, promoting accelerated innovation and launches. Government policy is highly supportive and has led to Telia trialling 5G in Estonia and Google’s use of new location technologies to improve emergency services.

As digitalisation transforms life, business and government, Estonia’s combination of skills, experience and environment make it the ideal location for globally scalable IT R&D.

Software development

Regularly ranked a world leader for IT skills, infrastructure and environment, it is little surprise that Estonia is a global hub for software development.

Our sector is vibrant, spanning startups to multinationals across segments such as gaming, fintech, e-commerce, cleantech, enterprise and e-government.

Thanks to a 25-year government commitment to the IT sector and tailored programs for talent mobility and skills development, Estonia possesses a skilled, multi-lingual workforce of over 20,000 with expertise in all key computer languages, UX, data analytics and cyber security.

Foreign investors such as Microsoft, CGI, Fujitsu, Kuehne+Nagel and Arvato have successful long-term operations in Estonia thanks to their ability to serve global clients with high-quality, innovative solutions.

Complex systems

Estonia’s early expertise stems from e-government solutions. X-Road is our system of public and private sector databases which function in harmony to support e-services. Outgoing data is digitally signed and encrypted while incoming data is authenticated and logged. New services and databases are easily added. Reliable, secure and scalable, X-Road has been adopted by countries as diverse as Finland and Namibia, and ensures Estonia has world class skills in decentralised databases and connected networks for the Blockchain and IOT era.

Estonia’s e-Tax system provides automatic calculations, one click returns and real-time data. 95% of all tax declarations in Estonia are filed electronically, taking just minutes for users and providing efficiency to the state. As a result of this innovation Estonia has the most competitive tax code in the OECD.

Nor is Estonia’s expertise limited to government solutions. Guardtime, the world’s largest Blockchain company, trusts Estonia to provide their cryptographers, developers and security architects. Estonian banking and fintech systems are adopted globally. Global telecoms giants Ericsson and Telia research and develop new systems in Estonia.

As the global IT architecture transforms towards blockchain, platforms and cloud, Estonian expertise in developing, managing and protecting high-tech systems makes it the trusted investment location.

Business opportunities in Estonia

Estonia is the world’s most digitally enabled nation, offering a unique combination of talent, environment and innovation. Our IT R&D ecosystem enjoys global proof of concept, being trusted by global organisations such as Kuehne+Nagel and NATO and producing unicorn startups Transferwise and Bolt.

Estonia is a cashless society with over 99% of financial transactions occurring digitally. Electronic ID and Blockchain are widely used in FinTech applications. 80+ FinTechs ranging from innovative startups such as TransferWise to Blockchain leader Guardtime make Estonia a global centre of excellence for FinTech.

The most advanced cyber security country in Europe, Estonia has unique expertise in the research, development and management of cyber security solutions and systems. Home to NATO CCDCOE, Guardtime and Malwarebytes, Estonia is trusted to keep the digital economy safe.

Estonia has a two-decade track record of successful innovations and investments thanks to its smart people and a unique environment which enables the accelerated development and commercialisation of IP.

Estonia has a sizeable food industry which benefits from ecological raw materials, skilled workers and modern production facilities. With an established export capability and growing application of food science and technology, Estonia is the ideal location for export and R&D oriented investment.

Estonia has a sizeable Advanced Industrial sector and world-class IT expertise in areas including high tech systems, control technologies and cyber security. Supported by a collaborative ecosystem well suited to research and development, Estonia is emerging as a centre of excellence in industrial automation.

Estonia developed X-Road, its proprietary decentralised, distributed system in 2001 and has utilised Blockchain since 2008. World-class technical skills supported by practical experience implementing public and permissioned Blockchain’s place Estonia at the forefront of the emerging Blockchain economy.

Estonia is the most effective supply chain hub for the Nordic, Baltic and northwest Russian regions thanks to its strategic location, modern infrastructure, multi-modal capabilities and reliable but flexible approach.

Estonia has one of Europe’s largest bioeconomies, including world leading expertise in forest-based activity. Supported by high-quality natural resources, ultra-high use of IT and supportive policy making, Estonia offers a range of production and innovation opportunities.

Estonia has a collaborative ecosystem for Industrial R&D including academia, accelerators and competence centres. Supported by world-class expertise and a highly competitive, digital environment, Estonia is the ideal location for Industrial product and technology R&D.

Patient records in Estonia are digitised and secured by the Blockchain, providing a single immutable data source for healthcare professionals. With a unique digital platform and collaborative ecosystem, Estonia is positioned to lead on preventative medicine, patient self-treatment and industry efficiency.

Estonia’s marine sector specialises in the design and build of small and medium-sized commercial and leisure vessels. Centuries long expertise, cutting-edge application of IT and a flexible approach make Estonia a competitive location for innovation and export-oriented production.

Estonia has a diversified energy sector which comprises long-standing expertise in oil shale, a sizeable renewables sector and growing CleanTech capability. World-class expertise within a highly digital, pro-business environment will see Estonia play a leading role in the energy revolution

Estonia has an export-oriented Chemicals sector benefitting from a full value chain and world-class skills in oil shale, rare earth metals and petrochemicals. Our pro-business environment is competitive and trustworthy, with digitalisation applied to deliver new capabilities.

Estonia is an emerging hub for global e-commerce activity. World-class IT skills have created numerous e-commerce applications and are supported by leadership positions in enablers such as online trust, payments and digital logistics.

Estonia is a world leader in the development and application of digital logistics. From data analytics and country single windows to mobile apps and delivery robots, Estonia improves supply chain efficiency and client experience from the first mile to last.

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